Mid-season reports (Herald-Sun and The Age)

[one-eyed]

RICHMOND mid-season report

Win/Loss: 4-1-6 Ladder: 11th
Next four: Bris, Melb, Carl, Ess
Premiership Odds: $101

Supercoach hero: Brett Deledio (106)

In a nutshell: Another season of huge improvement dulled only by losing a couple of 50-50 games, against Port Adelaide and Sydney. That the club is in the finals race again speaks volumes.

Pressure point: Angus Graham started the year as the first ruckman but has seen Andrew Browne flash past him and must lift if he is to reclaim his spot in the seniors.

Upside: Who would have thought Jake King and Robin Nahas would be top-five in the club's B&F voting after a dozen rounds? Both have starred so far.

Defining moment: Trailing by two points at halftime, the Tigers surged home with 14 second-half goals to smash Fremantle in Round 7, with the game also serving as Trent Cotchin's coming of age party as an elite midfielder.

Borrowed time: This list is youthful and talented, but Mitch Morton - currently struggling with personal issues - is likely to be moved on.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-mid-season-report-card/story-e6frf9jf-1226075305588

[one-eyed]

RICHMOND (currently 11th, predicted 10th)

WHAT'S GONE RIGHT: The Tigers are within a game-and-a-half of matching last year's six wins, and have been competitive other than being smashed by big boys Collingwood and Hawthorn. Dustin Martin's superb form made him a candidate for All-Australian selection in just his second season.

WHAT'S GONE WRONG: Troy Taylor went home with personal issues and Mitch Morton is on leave to sort out his future. Daniel Connors has had recurring issues with leg problems, ruining his season.

THE COACH: Damien Hardwick has Richmond on the right track, instilling a more defensive approach and with an excellent cluster of midfielders, plus a fine full-forward in Jack Riewoldt. But there are still holes in his team.

SURPRISE: Jake King continues to thrive as a hard-tackling, forward long after most observers would have had him sent off to the VFL.

DISAPPOINTMENT: Ben Griffiths, a top 20 pick in 2009 and earmarked as a future key forward, continues to churn away at Coburg and has not managed a senior game.

THE STAT: Richmond is the most efficient team, recording a disposal efficiency of 75 per cent.

THE DRAW: Four more interstate trips will test the Tigers. Winnable games against Brisbane and Melbourne in the next fortnight could be crucial.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-2011-halftime-report-20110614-1g23n.html#ixzz1PH1Bwc7G

[WilliamPowell]

DISAPPOINTMENT: Ben Griffiths, a top 20 pick in 2009 and earmarked as a future key forward, continues to churn away at Coburg and has not managed a senior game.

It's really hard to take this tripe seriously with comments like the above

"Disappointment" please give me a break....makes it sound like he can't crack a game, coming back from a shoulder reco and the club is being conservative with him. That's not disappointing that's bloody smart IMHO

[Coach]

Yeah, that is pretty poor from the bloke who wrote it. Do your research like a proper journo FFS

[TigerLand]

DISAPPOINTMENT: Ben Griffiths, a top 20 pick in 2009 and earmarked as a future key forward, continues to churn away at Coburg and has not managed a senior game.

It's really hard to take this tripe seriously with comments like the above

"Disappointment" please give me a break....makes it sound like he can't crack a game, coming back from a shoulder reco and the club is being conservative with him. That's not disappointing that's bloody smart IMHO

Yeah well said WP, read that and stopped reading.

[smasha]

DISAPPOINTMENT: Ben Griffiths, a top 20 pick in 2009 and earmarked as a future key forward, continues to churn away at Coburg and has not managed a senior game.

It's really hard to take this tripe seriously with comments like the above

"Disappointment" please give me a break....makes it sound like he can't crack a game, coming back from a shoulder reco and the club is being conservative with him. That's not disappointing that's bloody smart IMHO

Are these journos for real?
That is amatuer hour stuff.

Griffith's injury has been managed beautifully and this clown says it's a disappointment?

LMAO.

[Willy]

urrghhhhhhh.

[one-eyed]

Here's the video mid-season report from the Age with Michael Gleeson, Jake Niall and Martin Blake... [4.38 mins]

http://media.theage.com.au/sport/real-footy/midseason-report-richmond-tigers-2429370.html

[Smokey]

Yeah, that is pretty poor from the bloke who wrote it. Do your research like a proper journo FFS

   I think he did JT and that is the crux of the problem!!

[Penelope]

so true